Katete, April 03, 2023, ZANIS—The construction of a new stricture to house Katete Police Station has commenced and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The district has three police posts and one police station that has been housed in government offices since 1965.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS), Katete District Commissioner (DC), Malan Zimba, said the works will be completed in eight months.

“The Correctional Service is the one building it with the help of engineers from the council and Ministry of Infrastructure who are also supervising the works,” he said.

Mr Zimba said there will be benefits that would come as a result of erecting a police station within the central business district (CBD).

“So there are many advantages of that police station, one, the current police station was built in colonial times which is outside the CBD, but this one has been taken at the heart of the town which will help people access police services,” he said.

He said it will also be easier for the police officers to mobilise themselves around that area whenever there is crime.

Currently, people have to cover a distance of about 10 kilometres to access the police station.

Meanwhile, a senior citizen in the district, Jerry Chanda, said the construction of the police station within the heart of the district would help prevent crime.

“People will now be fearing that if they commit a crime, they will easily be picked up,” Mr Chanda said.

Another resident, Naphtali Mwanza, said building a police station closer to where many people conduct their businesses will encourage residents to report criminal activities and offences timely.

Mr Mwanza said many people are currently discouraged to cover a long distance to the police station.

“So when they build a big police station, all will be helped and security will be strengthened,” he said.

And Sarah Ngulube said the construction of the police station will bring about law and order hence incidents of criminal activities will reduced.

“When the police are nearby, there is peace and cases of robbery are reduced,” Ms Ngulube said.

ZANIS/ENDS/HB/KSH………..DRY

Mongu, April 3, 2023, ZANIS—Western Province Permanent Secretary, Simomo Akapelwa, has urged engineers to be consistent in the building of quality structures that will stand the test of time.

Mr Akapelwa observed that there is a level of inconsistence in the manner the bill of quantities (BoQs) are done by some engineers in the district.

He was speaking when officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as well as engineers from the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) paid a courtesy call on him in Mongu today.

He said the projects that are spearheaded by Mongu Municipal Council cost less while projects under Provincial Administration are expensive despite being handled by the same engineers.

He said there is need for collaboration among engineers so that all variations are sorted out.

And Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Technical Advisor, Stephen Malubila, said the team is in the province to train engineers from the council so that projects can be running smoothly in the region.

Mr Malubila said there will be no problem in the quality of work that will be done after engineers have been trained.

The team will be conducting a seven days training for council engineers in the province.

The training is part of the continued effort to abridge shortcomings in the engineering field in the country.    ZANIS/ENDS/PM/KSH……………DRY

Zimba, April 3, ZANIS—The Energy Regulation Board’s (ERB) move to adjust the pump price has elated most motorists in Zimba district in Southern Province.

On Friday last week, the ERB, announced the reduction of petrol price by K0.93 per litre and K2.97 per litre of diesel.

The new price for petrol is K27.59 from K 28.52 per litre while one litre of diesel will now cost K26.28 from K29.25.

The prices of kerosene and JET A-1 have been maintained at K22.29 and K25.34 per litre respectively.

The motorist which ZANIS interviewed expressed happiness at the development.

Joseph Choongo, a driver, said the reduction in fuel price is a relief to him.

Mr Choongo hoped that the reduction in fuels prices would translate into a drop in the prices of commodities.

“This reduction in fuel pump prices is a good move by government and I commended it,” he said.

Another motorist, Muuya Chulu, is optimistic that the reduction in fuel prices will result in reduced bus and taxi fares.

Meanwhile, Luke Mwiinga, who is in passenger transport business, welcomed the reduction of fuel prices.

Mr Mwiinga said more people will afford to travel in decent public transport vehicles if the fares are reduced.

ZANIS//ENDS/KC/KSH………………DRY